Staple clincher



Oct. 16, 1934.

A. o. SWARTWOOD 1,977,459

STAPLE CLINCHER Filed March 28, 1953 3nventor a A. 0. Swariwood g at Patented Oct. 16 1934 Uhrrsn STATES PATENT oerics 1,977,459 STAPLE cLINonER I Artie Swartwood, Fremont, Nebr. Application March 28, 1933, Serial No. 663,154 2 Claims (01. s1---15 This invention relates to hand tools and more particularly to a staple clincher adapted for use in securing fence wires to fence posts in instances where the latter are primarily T-shaped i in cross section. 1

An object of the invention is to provide means whereby wire staples may be readily bent and snugly positioned upcn a post for locking fence wires to the post.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a cross section of a T-shaped fence 1,? post having a fence wire applied thereto by means of a staple and showing the position of the new toolat the finish of the operation of clinching the staple about the fence post and fence wire. w

Figure 2 is an elevation showing the face of the fence post with the newtool applied thereto.

Figure 3 shows the new tool in an unfolded position certain portions thereof being broken away. i V

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3, but taken at right angles thereto showing an edge of the tool.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a wire staple, prior to the bending thereof by means of the new tool and showing the form of the staple, in dot ted lines, after it has been bent about a fence post.

Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description, indicates an iron fence post having a body portion 11 and a head 12 positioned at right angles thereto, the. parts being so arranged with respect to each other that the whole forms a substantially T-shaped post in cross section as shown in Figure 1. V

The surface of the head 12 which is opposite to the body portion 11 of the post is usually provided with a plurality of lugs 13 which, as best shown in Figure 2, are arranged in pairs, each member of each pair being spaced away from each other whereby a groove is provided between the lugs.

The groove is adapted to receive a fence wire 14 and the lugs 13 are adapted to prevent movement of the fence wire in a vertical direction.

In order to prevent the fence wire from moving in a horizontal direction outwardly away from the post a staple 15, best shown in Figure 5, is employed.

The staple 15 is placed about the post over '55 the wire 14 and between the lugs 13 thereof, as

shown in Figure 2, and in order to secure the post, the wire and the staple in a fixed position with respect to each other, the end of the staple is bent by means of the new tool. It will be understood that the normal shape of the staple 15 is as shown in Figure 5, said shape having been provided during the manufacture of the staple bya means not shown, and that the staple is provided with a body portion 16 having a hook 17 formed by bending an end portion of the body portion 16 until said portion is in substantially parallel alignment with the body portion as shown in Figure 5. The body portion 16 is bent as" at 18 whereby'an arm 19 is positioned at an angleof substantially 45 degrees with respect to the body portion 16. The end of the arm 19 is subsequently bent about the post by means of the new tool now to be described.

The new tool includes three primary parts which are 'hingedly' connected together comprising a post head engaging member or body portion 20 having a bifurcated hooked end 21 which, as shown in Figurefl, is adapted to hook over the edge of the head of the T-shaped post with'a fence wire 14 extending through and between the fingers 22 formed by bifurcating said end 21.

The fence post head engaging member 20 is hingedly'connected as at 23 to a connecting link 24, the latter, as best shown in Figure 3, being provided with a notch 25 which is adapted to receive the fence wire 14 for purposes later described.

The connecting link 24 adjacent the notch 25 is provided with an arcuate portion, as best shown in Figure 1.

The connecting link 2e is hingedly secured as at 26 to a lever 27. Y

The lever 27 is provided with a head 28 which, as best shown in Figures 1 and 3, is provided with a rugose surface 29, said surface preferably being formed by placing grooves transversely of the head and providing serrated edges, the head 28 is preferably off-set with respect to the lever 27 and protrudes away from the latter for purposes later described.

The lever 2'? is further provided with an operating handle 30 which is preferably formed integral with the lever. The handle may be of any desired length or form and is off-set substantially 45 degrees with respect to the lever, as shown in Figure 1.

In operation the fence posts are usually mounted in concrete bases, the latter being em-- bedded in the ground whereby the posts stand vertically with respect thereto and spaced apart any desired distance usually 30 feet.

The wires 14 are now stretched from one post to another and positioned between the lugs 13. A staple, of the then shape such as shown in Figure 5, is now placed about the post.

The new tool is now placed about the post and staple, the fingers 22 thereof hooking over an edge of the head of the post as shown in Figure 1, the wire 14 also being received within the notch of the new device.

It will be understood that at this time the end of the staple is in alignment with the arm 19 thereof as shown by the dotted line in Figure 1. The head 28 of the lever is now placed against the end 36 of the staple, the relative position of the I parts at this time being as shown. in Figure 1.

" and about the work or post.

The handle 30 of the lever is now moved horie zontally towards the post thereby bending the end 30 of the staple to the shape shown in Figure 1 and clinching it about the post the rugose surface of the head 28 at this time facilitating the operation by preventing the head from slip ping with respect to the wire staple. V 1

It will be noted that by means of the hinge con-: nection 23 between the connected link 24 and the body portion 20 of the tool that the parts 20 and 24 may be swung toward or away from each other for adapting the tool to posts of various I cross sectional areas or sizes, it being unimportant that the portions of the tool adjacent the hinge 23 fit snugly against the post, a loose fit as illus-. trated in Figure 1 being preferred for facilitating the subsequent removal of the tool after bending the staple. Also that parts 20 and 24 may be 'manufactured comparativelyelongated for spanning about posts of various sizes and pro viding a tool of substantially universal applicability by means of the foldability thereof toward Also on account of the hinge 25 the new tool may be appliedto posts which are ii-shaped in cross section with equal facility as the herein specifically described T- shaped post. The off-set head 28 of' the lever 27 providing means for bending the, ends of the staples snugly and firmlyagainst the posts on account of the projection of the head within the plane of the posts in use. 7 Said snug fit is of advantage for stiifening and reinforcing the con-' struction and of special advantage u'pori posts not provided with the lugs 13.

The new tool is now removed and it will be noted that it may be readily detached since it will lift off of the wire 14 adjacent the notch 25 and may be moved longitudinally of the fence wire 14 away from the post to a sufficient distance for permitting the detachment of its hooked end 21 from the wires 14 whereupon the operation is repeated. V

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a staple clincher constructed in accordance -with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish it to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as herein claimed.

-W hatlis claimed is:

1. A staple clincher for use upon fence posts which are substantially T-shape in cross section and provided with a body portion and a head comprising a post head engaging member provided with a bifurcated hooked end, a connecting link pivotally secured to said member and having a notch adjacent said pivotal connection, and a lever pivotally carried by the link and provided with a head adapted to engage a staple for bending the latter about the body portion of the post, said head having a rugose staple engaging surface.

(2. A staple clincher comprising a body portion having a hooked bifurcated end for engagement with an edge of a fence post on opposite sides of an end of the staple, a connecting link hingedly secured tothe body portion and having a notch adjacent the pivotalconnection, a lever hingedly carried by the connecting link and provided with a head 01f -set with respect to the lever and spaced from the hooked end when in applied position, said head adapted to engage a staple for bending-an end of the latter at an acute angle into a snug contact with an edge of the post other than the first mentioned edge thereof.

ARTIE O. SWARTWOOD. 

